Low Cost Housing in India

Driven by increasing urbanization, rising incomes and decreasing household sizes, the residential demand in India has been on an upswing over the past few years. The Working Committee of the 12th Plan (2012–17) has concluded that the total shortage of dwelling units at the beginning of Twelfth Plan Period i.e. 2012 is 18.78 million units with more than 96% of the shortage of dwelling units is for middle and low income brackets. In the 11th Plan the total shortage of dwelling units for middle and low income brackets was 70%. Unfortunately this figure is often overlooked by development agencies because of lower profitability as the construction cost of buildings built from conventional construction technologies is very expensive and affordable housing doesn't generate better returns for these agencies. It is imperative to work towards new technologies that can help in reducing the overall housing costs. In the last few years many developers have experimented with technologies that can lower down the overall costs of construction cost thus making housing an affordable reality to people from bottom of pyramids. My paper will explore affordable housing needs in India and present successful case studies of affordable housing projects in Maharashtra.